Jonata, El Desafio de Jonata

Jonata, El Desafio de JonataProbably the longest lived wine in the vintage from Santa Barbara, Jonata's 630 case 2012 El Desafio de Jonata checks in as a blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Cabernet Franc, 15% Petit Verdot and 5% Merlot that saw 80% new French oak. It reveals a masculine, meaty, structured personality as well as rockin' notes of blackcurrants, wood smoke, lead pencil shavings and crushed rock. Full bodied, balanced and with building tannic grip, it still shows

Savory at the end

and arguably sets the tone for all of Egon Müllers 2014s

but there is something about the wine's raciness and immediacy that makes it a pure pleasure to taste today

violet and red currant along with a wisp of freshly turned earth

" This was the first year the estate used its new optical sorter

A highly spiced nose speaks of anise

There is remarkable finesse here for villages level Pommard and nary a trace of rusticity

the 2013 is one of the most impressive young La Serras I have ever tasted from Roberto Voerzio because the tannins are much more polished than is typically the case here

the succulent

Note that this first-rate Puligny villages should drink well young if desired

so it has sleeker contours than the other wines in the range

This should reward both longer-term cellaring but it is less backward and austere than usual and thus should be approachable after only 5 to 7 years of bottle age